Klarinet Archive - Posting 000087.txt from 2006/09

From: GrabnerWG@-----.com
Subj: Re: [kl] Bass clarinet reed strength
Date: Fri, 08 Sep 2006 16:56:39 -0400

In a message dated 9/8/2006 12:45:55 P.M. Central Daylight Time,
claroneman@-----.net writes:
The second part of the thread has to do with the proper reed strength
for advanced players. The suggestion that someone should use the same reed
strength on bass that they use on clarinet is absolutely ludicrous. I
suspect that most players in this county play on medium faced clarinet
mouthpieces that require about a #4 reed (let's use Van Doren as the
standard). This being the case a #4 bass clarinet reed is much to hard for
most bass clarinet mouthpieces. There are some makers who make very close,
short facings that might require a #4 reed, but this is a flawed design in
my opinion.>>

For once, I am going to disagree - slightly - with Clark Fobes in public.
This seldom happens as I have the highest regard for Clark, and view him as a
friend and colleague. For years, I played on Vandoren 3 1/2's on both clarinet
and bass clarinet.

I now actually use Grand Concert #4's on bass clarinet, using the facing
that was developed by Lawrie Bloom and myself. I recently moved up to 4's from 3
1/2's as I found the 3 1/2 would get to mushy. If I was using Vandoren, I
would play on a 3 1/2, but I find the tone clearer with the Grand Concerts.

The suggestion to move up to 4's was made by Lawrie Bloom, the SUPERB bass
clarinet player in the CSO. (I know he is superb, he beat me in three
auditions in a row...me and a few dozen other people...LOL).

Just my two cents.....

Hi Clark!

Walter Grabner
www.clarinetxpress.com/bass.html
"Lawrie Bloom" Bass clarinet mouthpiece....

-------------------------------------------------------------------
Klarinet is a service of Woodwind.Org, Inc. http://www.woodwind.org

   
     Copyright © Woodwind.Org, Inc. All Rights Reserved    Privacy Policy    Contact charette@woodwind.org